Public Against Violence

Public Against Violence (VPN) was a liberal political party in the Slovak section of Czechoslovakia that was active from 1989 to 1991. The VPN was the Slovak counterpart of Vaclav Havel's Czech Civic Forum party, and it was led by Fedor Gal. The VPN took part in the Velvet Revolution of 1989, toppling the communist regime after 10 days of protests. The party began to split before the first elections were held, with advocates of Christian democracy forming the Christian Democratic Movement party in February 1990. That year, the party finished ahead of the Christian Democrats in the elections, and VPN leader Marian Calfa led a national coalition government as Prime Minister, while the VPN and Christian Democrats ruled Slovakia as a coalition. The party continued to undergo splits in 1991, however, with former Prague Spring communist leader Alexander Dubcek leaving the party due to its rightward shift, and other members leaving due to disputes over Slovakia's role in Czechoslovakia. The party failed to establish a popular constituency, leading to its demise.